Movable refrigerator-chest



' (No Model.)

F. E. HIGGINS. Movable Refrigerator Chest. No. 241,491 Patented May 17,I881.

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N. PETERS. Pbobutbognpher, Washington, 0. (1

GINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chests; and I dohereby declare the follow- UNITED STATES FRANK E. HIGGINS, OF GRANDRAPIDS, MlOHIGAN.

MOVABLE REFRIGERATOR-CHEST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters A Application filed October 8,1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK ELDRIDGE HIG- Grand Rapids, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Movable Refrigeratoring to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompan ying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon,whieh form a part of this specification. I

In thedrawings, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a movablerefrigerator-chest em bodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection on the line as or, Fig.1. Fig.3'is a similar section on the liney 3 Fig. 1.

Like letters refer tolike parts wherever they occur. 7

My invention relates more especially to the construction of that classof movable refrigerator chests or boxes employed for the transportationof meat, vegetables, and other perishable articles, though certainfeatures set forth will be found equally useful in all classes ofrefrigerators.

The invention consists, mainly, in the combination, in arefrigerator-chest, of a removable ice box or chamber with achill-chamber, either fixed or removable, the parts relatively arrangedso as to obtain, when the chest is closed, a series of fiues for thecirculation. of the air, and also so as to permit of the'separation ofthe parts for filling, cleaning, airing, &c.; and, secondarily, indetails of construction hereinafter more specifically set forth.

The usual manner of packingmeats, vegetables, and various perishablearticles for trans portation in movable refrigerator chests or boxes isto insert an ice-box within the chest and pack the meat or other articleclosely around the same. This leads to the condensation of moisturewithin the storage-chamber and its deposit upon the ice-box, and themeat 850., next the same, so that the meatsoon becomes soaked andinjured. It also prevents the proper circulation of the air within thechest, and portions of the contents may be frozen, while other portionsspoil.

Patent No. 241,491, dated May 17, 1881.

(N0 modeLl v The object of my invention is to obtain and maintain acirculation within the chest whereby the temperature of the chamber willbe uni form throughout and its contents preserved;

to condense any moisture and conduct it from the chest, whereby thechest and its contents will be kept dry; to render the contents ofthechest easily accessible and the chest separable for the purpose ofcleaning and repairing the same.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more definitely, so thatothers may make and use the same.

In the drawings, B indicates an outer boxor chest, which may be providedwith rollers R R- to render it easily movable. Within the box or chestB, and arranged on the bottom thereof, are a series of horizontal stripsor cleats, a: at, which support the inner box or chillchamher, and atthe sides and ends are vertical strips at 410 which separate the innerbox ,or chill-chamber from the sides of the outer case, B. These stripsx Ir a are usually attached to the box B, and, when the inner box is inplace, serve to divide theintermediate space in: to a series of flues,a, which communicate with the interior of the chill-chamber. In onecorher of box B, or at any other suitable point, is awaste-pipe, E,which receives and conducts off the water from the ice-box. The lowerend of pipe Eshould be provided with a trap. to

when found necessary. In the lower end of 0 chill-chamber G, in thebottom,and also in the side walls, a, are a number of ports, a, by whichcommunication is had with lines a n.

D indicates a removable ice-box, adapted to rest upon and close the topof the chill-chamber O. The bottom I of the ice-box is narrower than thechill-chamber O, and within the ice-box is a vertical partition, S,which, with the outer wall, forms a flue, S, opening below into the topof the chill-chamber, and above into the upper part of the ice-box. Lowdown on theopposite side of the ice-box is a port or port's, H, by whichthe ice-box communicates with flues n.

E indicates a pipe for conducting the drainage from the ice-box to thewaste-pipe E.

In order toprotect the bottom of theice-box D, as well as to prevent thecondensation of moisture from the chill-chamber on the under surfacethereof, a sheet of tarred felt or paper, I, may be employed.

A-indicates the top for closing the box B and inclosing the ice-box D.It may be provided with hin ges, if desired; butin order to be readilydetachable is preferably secured by hasps or equivalent devices.

For the purpose of filling the chill-chamber O, the top A and ice-box Dmay be removed, and for the purpose of cleaning or airing the chest, thechill-chain berG may also be removed when the same has been madedetachable. When the chill-chamber G has been filled with .the articleto be transported the ice-box D has been replaced and supplied with ice,and the cover A applied. The cold air from the ioe-box will pass throughports H into flues n, thence to the bottom of ehill-ehamberO, which itenters through ports a, gradually displacing the warm air charged withmoisture, and causing the same to rise through flue S and flow over theice in ice-box D, where the moisture is condensedand escapes throughpipe Eand wastepipe E. This circulation will be maintained as long asany ice remains in the ice-box D.

It is evident that the strips or cleats ac m 00 could be attached to theexterior of the detachable chill-chamber U, if preferred.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a refrigerator-chest for the transportation of perishablearticles, a chill or storage chamber surrounded by flues whichcommunicate with the bottom of said chamber, in combination with aremovable ice-box adapted to cover the chill-chamber, and provided witha flue which communicates at its lower end with the top of thechill-chamber, and at its upper end with the ice-box, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

2. In a refrigerator, a detachable chill chamber surrounded bycirculation-flues, in combination with a detachable ice-box arrangedover and adapted to cover the chill-chamber, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

3. In a movable refrigerator box or chest, the combination of an outerbox or case provided on its interior with clea s or strips arranged withrelation to an inner box or case to form flues therewith, a detachableinner box or chill-chamber, a detachable ice-box adap'tedto cover thechill-chamber, and having a flue connecting therewith, and a waste-pipefor conducting the drainage from the ice-box, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK ELDRIDGE' HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

H. N. MOORE, JEROME TROWBIDGE.

